One billion NTD treatments

Working globally

We work in more than 30 countries around the world.

We partner with local, regional and national partners, ministries, governments and non-governmental groups to distribute disease treatments, carry out operations and eye examinations, advocate for people with disabilities and strengthen local health systems.

Africa

The majority of Sightsavers’ work takes place in sub-Saharan Africa, and we also have regional support offices in Kenya (covering East Africa) and Senegal (covering East, Central and Southern Africa).

Benin

Our work in Benin focuses on treating and preventing neglected tropical diseases. In 2017 Sightsavers and its partners distributed 4.3 million treatmentsfor river blindness and nearly 2 millionfor lymphatic filariasis.

Sightsavers is working to eliminate trachoma and river blindness in Burkina Faso. In 2017 we distributed 103,000 treatments for river blindness, and trained more than 600 volunteers to give out medication.

Sightsavers’ work in Côte d’Ivoire focuses on treating neglected tropical diseases such as river blindness. In 2017 we distributed 3.5 million NTD treatments and trained 7,000 volunteers to give out medication.

Neglected tropical diseases such as river blindness affect millions of people in DRC. In 2017 we helped to distribute more than 3.6 million treatments to prevent the spread of these debilitating diseases.

More than 75 million people in Ethiopia live in trachoma-endemic areas – the highest of any country in the world. In 2017, we helped to distribute 10.4 million antibiotic treatments for trachoma in the country.

It’s estimated that 200,000 people in Ghana are blind, more than half because of untreated cataracts. In 2017, Sightsavers helped to examine more than 38,000 people for eye conditions to enable them to be treated.

Sightsavers’ work in Guinea focuses on preventing the spread of neglected tropical diseases. In 2017 we helped to distribute almost 2.5 million NTD treatments and supported 1,900 sight-saving operations.

Many people in Liberia suffer from neglected tropical diseases such as river blindness. In 2017, Sightsavers helped to distribute more than 2.5 million NTD treatments to stop the spread of these diseases.

It’s estimated that more than 160,000 people in Malawi have impaired vision, with half caused by cataracts. In 2017 Sightsavers examined 50,000 people to check for eye conditions and enable them to be treated.

In 2017, Sightsavers distributed nearly 8 million treatments in Mali to stop the spread of neglected tropical diseases such as river blindness, and trained 10,000 local volunteers to give out the medication.

Sightsavers’ work in the Republic of Congo focuses on preventing the spread of neglected tropical diseases such as river blindness. In 2017 we distributed more than 1.5 million NTD treatments to people at risk.

Sightsavers’ work in Senegal focuses on eye screening and surgery. In 2017 we screened 76,000 people for eye conditions and helped to carry out 8,000 sight-saving operations to treat eye issues such as cataracts.

Our focus in Sierra Leone is on treating cataracts and preventing the spread of neglected tropical diseases. In 2017 we helped to distribute almost 10 million NTD treatments to tackle these debilitating diseases.

Trachoma continues to affect many people in Republic of the Sudan. In 2017, Sightsavers examined 21,000 people for eye conditions and distributed 1.9 million antibiotic treatments to help prevent trachoma.

Sightsavers’ work in Togo focuses on preventing river blindness. In 2017, we helped to distribute more than 2.5 million treatments for the disease in Togo, and trained 11,800 volunteers to give out the medication.

Sightsavers’ focus in Uganda is to promote social inclusion and tackle neglected tropical diseases (NTDs). In 2017 we distributed 275,000 treatments for NTDs and supported 5,000 sight-saving operations.

Asia

Sightsavers’ work in Asia is mainly concentrated on India, Pakistan and Bangladesh. We also have a Middle Eastern office in the United Arab Emirates.

Bangladesh

Bangladesh has one of the highest rates of untreated cataracts worldwide. In 2017, Sightsavers helped to screen more than a million people for eye conditions, and supported more than 52,500 cataract operations.

It is estimated there are still more than 8 million blind people in India. In 2017 Sightsavers examined more than 4.1 million people in India for eye conditions and supported more than 204,000 cataract operations.

In 2018, Sightsavers started working in Yemen to distribute treatments to protect against trachoma. More than 444,000 doses of antibiotics were given out during the first week-long distribution programme.